May
26
/ 2023
After analyzing chemical traces found in a small vessel recovered from an ancient Roman site in the city of Carmona, Spain, a team of researchers from the University of Cordoba has identified elements of a Roman perfume that was worn more than 2,000 years ago. The scientists have concluded that the ancient Roman perfume was composed primarily of patchouli, an essential oil that would have been harvested from an Indian plant known as the Pogostemon cablin. Patchouli only grows in the tropic climates of southern and southeastern Asia. This means it would have been imported into Roman territory and sold in products crafted for wealthy patrons who craved access to exotic ingredients. “Although archaeological excavations have recovered a large number
